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'No' votes barely outpaced those in favor on the matter regarding extension of the toll on the Crescent City Connection Bridge. The question, however, may not be settled -- even though all precincts have reported.

With a margin of fewer than 1,000 votes, officials were looking at early or absentee ballots that may not have been counted. They were also expected to double-check ballots cast on Tuesday at voting stations.

However, by Wednesday morning, the 'Yes' vote was ahead by 8 points.

"Those eight votes, you're looking at 20 years and a half-a-billion-dollar tax, and the constituents I represent will pay the most," said Rep. Patrick Connick. "There's no allegations being made that anybody has done any wrongdoing. Let's just have that confidence back, the integrity that we need to check this thing and make sure the numbers are right. Eight votes is a very, very small margin."

Orleans Clerk of Courts Arthur Morrell said his office began counting early votes by 1 p.m., but a record number of 26,000 early votes and 5,000 absentee ballots took time to process.

"The most time-consuming is absentee ballots that come in by mail or fax. Those can take a little bit of time because we have to process and verify that those people did indeed vote," said Betsy Stoner, with the Board of Election supervisors.

Officials said five different types of ballots had to be brought into one total voting figure.

"Once those votes are tallied, we can put them in the system quicker, but we had a little problem with that this time," Morrell said. "The program was not formatted properly, so when time came to process the results, we ran into a little bit of a problem with that."

The proposal would extend tolls on the Crescent City Connection Bridge for another 20 years.

The tolls that have been collected since 1989 from motorists using the New Orleans-bound lanes of the bridges over the Mississippi River were set to expire in January.

The $1 proposition had people campaigning strongly on both sides of the issue.

Opponents said allowing the tolls to expire would simply be keeping a promise to motorists now that construction debt for the newer of the two spans is paid off.

Opponents also argued that the $22 million in tolls collected throughout the year has been mismanaged.

Connick said the area has not seen its fair share of the $14 million that was collected.

"The money collected has been spent elsewhere on self-serving projects and needs of those in power," Connick said.

However, proponents said tolls should remain to provide dedicated revenue for operating, lighting and maintaining the bridges.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced his support of renewing tolls on the nation's 5th most traveled bridge.

Landrieu thinks ending the tolls will hamper the quality and upkeep of the bridge, and also create a backlog of traffic in New Orleans.

"If the funding is not there the lights will go off," said Landrieu. "Local governments will not pick it up and if the funding is not there, the traffic on this bridge is going to choke a horse."

Connick said he wants to make sure the toll money goes toward what it's intended for -- maintenance and public safety.

"If the tolls continue, the money has got to be spent properly," Connick said.

With Tuesday's decision from voters, the new law would into effect Jan. 1, 2013, and end Dec. 31, 2033. However, a closer look at the results is expected with Tuesday's outcome being so close.

The board of supervisors of elections will be opening the military ballots at city hall Saturday morning. Morel said he expects an official tally that day.

Morrell said that one thing is for sure, the state is ending the Crescent City Connection Police Department. Officials said 22 officers on the force will be transferred to the state Department of Public Safety.

Starting next week, CCC officers will begin training for the transition, which goes into effect on Jan. 1.